Varifocal objective system



HUUnr BSO-427 SR 0R 3.350.155 v OMC @o Oct. 31, 1967 K. H. MAcHER 3,350,155

VARIFOCAL OBJECTIVE SYSTEM 'Filed oct. 2, 1964 1 l i l l 7 e 47 da dro dfz du w 417 die dz/dzz 424 des u. Ls Ls L1 La L9 L10 P ur mmm/s wf H [IIN Y KARL H. MACHER Jnven/or:

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AAGENT United States Patent O 3,350,155 VARIFOCAL OBJECTIVE SYSTEM Karl Heinrich Macher, Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland, Germany, nssgnor to Jos. Schneider & Co., Optische Werke, Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland, Germany Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 401,128 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 16, 1963, Sch 34,003 2 Claims. (Cl. S50-176) This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 295,851, filed July 17, 1963, relating to a high-speed varifocal objective for photographic or cinematographic cameras.

A typical objective of this type, disclosed in commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 126,306 filed by me jointly with Gnter Klemt on July 24, 1961, and now abandoned, includes a fixed rear lens group and an adjustable forward lens group, the latter consisting of a -positive first component, a negative second component, a negative third component and a positive fourth component. The first component is substantially fixed axially,

. though it (or its front lens) may be limitedly displaceable for focusing purposes as is well known per se; the second and third components are movable to vary the overall focal length of the system, the fourth component being again fixed.

The general object of my present improvement is to provide a system of this type whose varifocal ratio -is substantially greater than those hitherto realizable with similar systems, i.e. equals approximately 1:10 with a relative aperture better than 1:2 (e.g. 1:1.8).

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved objective of this type whose minimum focal length is relatively short, e.g. equal to or less than the image diagonal, for the purpose of increasing the field angle, the system at the same time insuring full illumination of the image field even for small diaphragm stops and with close-range focusing.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an objective system which, while satisfying the aforestated desiderata, is of compact design and relatively short total axial length even when the space between the two lens groups is used to accommodate an auxiliary element, such as a prism for reflex viewfinding, in addition to the usual diaphragm.

I have found, in accordance with this invention, that the foregoing objects can be realized by a suitable dimensioning of the individual focal lengths f1, fn, fm, fw of the four components ofthe forward lens group and the individual focal length fv of the rear lens 'group or basic objective for which the adjustable forward lens group acts as a varifocal attachment, this relationship being where R is the ratio of fmaxzfmmffmx and fmm being the maximum and the minimum overall focal lengths of the system), S being the sum of the absolute values of the individual focal lengths f1 to fw. Thus, with R=l0 this formula can also be written in the form Advantageously, as in the system of my copending application 295,851, the first component consists of a dispersive front lens preceding three air-spaced positive lenses, the second component being constituted by two air-spaced dispersive lens members whereas the third and fourth components consist of individual lens members.

The rear lens group consists of four air-spaced members of which the first, second and fourth are positive whereas the third one is negative, the second positive lens member being preferably a doublet with a dispersive cemented 3,350,155 Patented 06h31, 1967 surface whereas the first` member of the second component and the sole member of the third component are preferentially designed as doublets with collective cemented surfaces. More particularly, these surfaces may be forwardly concave, forwardly convex and forwardly concave in the second, third and fifth components, respectively, for effective suppression of chromatic aberrations.

For the correction of spherical, comatic and other residual aberrations I have found it advantageous to maintain the following relationships, individually or preferably in combination, between the radii of curvatures of certain lens members:

(a) The radius of the concave rear face of the front lens should be at least equal to the radius of the convex front face of the third positive lens of the first component.

(b) The radius of the front face of the second dispersive lens member of the second component should have an absolute magnitude equal to at least 1.5 times the magnitude of the radius of the corresponding front face of the dispersive member immediately preceding it.

(c) The convex rear face and the concave front face of the sole member of the third component should have absolute magnitudes in a ratio of at least 4:1.

(d) The radius of the rear face of the first (positive) lens of the fifth component should equal, again in absolute terms, at least 10 times the radius of the convex rear face of the sole member of the fourth component.

The individual focal length f1 of such a system, designed for a varifocal ratio R of about 10, may lie within 210% of the maximum overall focal length fmx The sole figure of the accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of my present invention.

The system shown in the drawing comprises a fourcomponent varifocal forward lens group I-IV and a fixedfocus four-component rear lens group V. The first component I of the varifocal group comprises a biconcave front lens L1 with radii r1, r2 and thickness d1, separated by an air space d2 from an assembly of three closely juxtaposed collective singlets, i.e. a first biconvex lens L2 with radii ra, r4 and thickness d3, a second biconvex lens L5 with radii T5, r1, and thickness d5, and a positive meniscus L4 with radii r1, f5 and thickness d'1; the intervening air spaces have been designated d1 and d5. A variable air space d8 separates the positively refracting first component I from the axially `shiftable, negatively refracting second component II which consists of a doublet, constituted by a biconvex lens L5 (radii r9, rm, thickness dg) cemented onto a biconvex lens L5 (radii r15, r11, thickness dw), and a nearly plano-concave lens L7 (radii r12, r15, thickness d12) separated from doublet L5, L6 by a distance dg. Another variable air space d15 intervenes between components II and III, the latter being an axially shiftable doublet consisting of a substantially plano-concave lens L5 (radii r1.1, r15, thickness d14) and a substantially plano-convex lens L9 (radii r15, r15, thickness d15) cemented thereto. The fourth component IV, following component III with a variable spacing d15, is a fixed positive biconvex lens L15 having radii r1-1, r15 and thickness du.

Component V follows the group I-IV with a spacing to accommodate a reflex prism P and a diaphragm D, the four members of this component being a substantially biconvex lens L11 (radii r19, r20, thickness c1111), another positive lens member spaced from lens L11 by an air gap d21, and designed as a doublet composed of a biconvex lens L12 (radii r21, r22, thicknes d21) and a biconcave lens L11 (radii r22, r23, thickness d22) cemented to it, a biconcave singlet L14 (radii r25, r25, thickness d25) separated from doublet L12, L13 by an air space [123, and a biconvex singlet L15 (radii r25, r21, thickness 125) following the lens L1.,k with a spacing d25.

Representative numerical values for the radii r1r21, the thicknesses and air spaces d1-d211, the refractive indices nd and the Abb numbers v of a system as shown in the drawing, constituting an objective with relative aperture of 1:1.8 and varifocal range of 30 to 300 linear units (e.g. millimeters), are given in the following table:

TABLE Thicknesses Lens Rad and separations nd i V r1 584.90 L1.. di v 9.00 1.74080 28.05

d; 9.00 Air space r3 =+663.50 14.--.. d3 24.75 1.62041 60.29

n -66350 I d4 0.50 Air space f5 =+663.50 Lam-- d5 24.75 1.62041 60.29

du 0.50 Air space r1 =+181.45 .L4-.--- d1 23.50 1.62299 58.12

ra =i454.50

dg :145.10 Variable air space r9 =+750A0 L5. do 16.50 1.80518 25.46

r1=27 6.10 L..... dm= 4.75 1. 58913 61. 24 11--.-. r11=+107.80

d11= 14.00 .Air space r11=-1,266.50 L1-.-.. dn= 5.00 1. 62041 60. 29

di3= 18.95 Variable air space T|4=53A5 La..-" dn= 4.00 1. 62041 60. 29 IIL--. r1s=+235.60

Lv.--.. d15= 7.25 1. 80518 25. 46

d1= 28.00 Variable air space r11=+371.65 IV Liu..-V di7= 10.00 1.62041 60.29

dig= 50.00 Diaphragm space f|0=+85.55 Lum. d19= 10.00 1. 58784 68.19

rzo=l3,937.50

dzo= 0.50 Air space rg1=+51.30 Lm... d21= 13.50 1. 71300 53.89

T11 191.05 1113.... d22= 3.50 1. 80518 25. 46 V-- m=+22320 du: 2.50 Air space MF1-253.20 1.14..-. dz4= 12.50 1.80518 25. 46

dz1= 11.25 Air space 7zs=l229.85 L15 d11= 9.25 1. 71736 29. 51

diotnl=458.55

The individual focal lengths of components I, II, III, IV and V as given in the foregoing table can be computed as follows:

It will be seen that these values satisfy the relationships (1) and (2) set forth above.

Furthermore, these values also satisfy the relationships f2/71, l'lg/fgLS, rl/ml' and zo/lgu) Specified above as desirable for the correction of aberrations.

The magnitudes of the lvariable air spaces -given in the table apply to an intermediate overall focal length 0f numerical value 150. For minimum focal length fm1n=30, the numerical value of these air spaces will be:

For the maximum focal length fmx=300, these values will be:

If the system is miniaturized for use in an S-mm. camera, the variation in focal length may correspond to a range of 6 to 60 mm.

From the specilic values given above it will be noted that the ratio fv/ fm1., can -be equated to approximately 3 so that inequality (2) can be rewritten in the followin form:

A practical upper limit for fV/S is 0.3.

The several ratios of radii of curvature given above may have upper limits of infinity, except for the ratio r16/r14 whose upper practical limit is approximately 10.

I claim:

1. An optical objective system constituted by a fixedfocus rear lens group and a forward lens group consisting of a substantially fixed positive first component, an axially movable negative second component, an axially movable negative third component and a fixed positive fourth component, said first component consisting of three airspaced positive lenses and a dispersive front lens preceding said lenses, said second component consisting of two airspaced dispersive lens members, said third component consisting of a single dispersive lens member, said fourth component consisting of a single collective lens member, said second and third components being movable relatively to each other and to said first and fourth components into a lirst position wherein said system has a relatively short focal length, an intermediate position with an intermediate focal length and a third position with a relatively large focal length, the first dispersive lens member of said second component and the dispersive lens mem-ber constituting said third component are doublets with positively refractive cemented surfaces, said rear lens group consisting of a tirst positive singlet, a positive doublet with a negatively refractive cemented surface, a negative singlet and a second positive singlet following one another in the order named, the cemented surfaces of said first dispersive lens member, said third component and said positive doublet being respectively concave, 'convex and concave as seen from the object side of the system, the numerical values of the radii of curvature r1 to r2, of said dispersive front lens L1, said three air-spaced positive lenses L2, L3, L4, the lirst dispersive lens member L5, Le and the second dispersive lens member L7 of said second component, said third component L8, L9, said fourth component L10, said first positive singlet L11, said positive doublet L12, L13, said negative singlet L11 and said second positive singlet L15, and of the axial thicknesses and separations d1 to du thereof, based upon a numerical value of 150 for an intermediate overall focal length of the system at said intermediate position, the refractive indices nd of the lenses L1 to L15 and their Abb numbers u being substantially as given in the following table, wherein da, d13 and d1., are given for said intermediate position:

TABLE Lens Radil Thicknesses nd v and separations n -584. L1 d1 =9. 00 1. 74080 28.05

d; =9. 00 Air space n =+663. 50 L1 d; =24. 75 1. 62041 60. 29

d4 =0. 50 Air space r; =l663. 50 La di =24. 75 1.62041 60. 29

da =0. 50 Air space r1 H81. 45 L4.- d1 =23. 50 1.62299 58.12

da =145. 10 Variable air space rg +750. 40 Ls du =16. 50 1. 80518 25. 46

rm 276. 10 La llio=4. 75 1. 58913 61.24

d11=14. 00 All' Space TABLE-Continued Lens Radli Thicknesses nd u and separations m= -1, 266. so 5 L1 d|z=5. 00 1. 62041 60. 29

dla-:18. 95 Variable air space T14 53. 45 La dn=4. 00 1. 62041 60. 29

m=l235. 60 L9 d1=7. 25 1.80518 25. 46 10 dm=28. 00 Variable air space r11= +371. 65 Lia d11=10. 00 l. 62041 60. 29

d1a=50.00 Diaphragm space m +85. 55 1 5 L11 d1a=10. 00 1. 58784 68.19

rzo=+3, 937. 50

dzo=0. 50 Air space m=+51. 30 L12 dz1=13. 50 1. 71300 53. 89

m= 191. 05 L13 du =3. 50 1. 80518 25. 46

dg3=2. 50 Air space T24 253. 20 L du =12. 50 1. 80518 25. 46

' fzs=+42. 03

d2s=11. 25 Air space m=+229. 85 L15 dz=9. 25 1. 71736 29. 51 25 2. A system as dened in claim 1 wherein the spaces d8, 113 and dw have the following values in said rst and third positions, respectively, corresponding to numerical values of the focal length of 30 and 3 00:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1962 Yamaji 88-57 FOREIGN PATENTS 646,409 11/1950 Great Britain.

JEWELL H. PEDERSEN, Primary Examiner. JOHN K. CORBIN, Examiner.

R. STERN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN OPTICAL OBJECTIVE SYSTEM CONSTITUTED BY A FIXEDFOCUS REAR LENS GROUP AND A FORWARD LENS GROUP CONSISTING OF A SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED POSITIVE FIRST COMPONENT, AN AXIALLY MOVABLE NEGATIVE SECOND COMPONENT, AN AXIALLY MOVABLE NEGATIVE THIRD COMPONENT AND A FIXED POSITIVE FOURTH COMPONENT, SAID FIRST COMPONENT CONSISTING OF THREE AIRSPACED POSITIVE LENSES AND A DISPERSIVE FRONT LENS PRECEDING SAID LENSES, SAID SECOND COMPONENT CONSISTING OF TWO AIRSPACED DISPERSIVE LENS MEMBERS, SAID THIRD COMPONENT CONSISTING OF A SINGLE DISPERSIVE LENS MEMBER, SAID FOURTH COMPONENT CONSISTING OF A SINGLE COLLECTIVE LENS MEMBER, SAID SECOND AND THIRD COMPONENTS BEING MOVABLE RELATIVELY TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID FIRST AND FOURTH COMPONENTS INTO A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID SYSTEM HAS A RELATIVELY SHORT FOCAL LENGTH, AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION WITH AN INTERMEDIATE FOCAL LENGTH AND A THIRD POSITION WITH A RELATIVELY LARGE FOCAL LENGTH, THE FIRST DISPERSIVE LENS MEMBER OF SAID SECOND COMPONENT AND THE DISPERSIVE LENS MEMBER CONSTITUTING SAID THIRD COMPONENT ARE DOUBLETS WITH POSITIVELY REFRACTIVE CEMENTED SURFACES, SAID REAR LENS GROUP CONSISTING OF A FIRST POSITIVE SINGLET, A POSITIVE DOUBLET WITH A NEGATIVELY REFRACTIVE CEMENTED SURFACE, A NEGATIVE SINGLET AND A SECOND POSITIVE SINGLET FOLLOWING ONE ANOTHER IN THE ORDER NAMED, THE CEMENTED SURFACES OF SAID FIRST DISPERSIVE LENS MEMBER, SAID THIRD COMPONENT AND SAID POSITIVE DOUBLET BEING RESPECTIVELY CONCAVE, CONVEX AND CONCAVE AS SEEN FROM THE OBJECT SIDE OF THE SYSTEM, THE NUMERICAL VALUES OF THE RADII OF CURVATURE R1 TO R27 OF SAID DISPERSIVE FRONT LENTS L1, SAID THREE AIR-SPACED POSITIVE LENSES L2, L3, L4, THE FIRST DISPERSIVE LENS MEMBER L5, L6 AND THE SECOND DISPERSIVE LENS MEMBER L7 OF SAID SECOND COMPONENT, SAID THIRD COMPONENT L3, L9, SAID FOURTH COMPONENT L10, SAID FIRST POSITIVE SINGLET L11, SAID POSITIVE DOUBLET L12, L13, SAID NEGATIVE SINGLET L14 AND SAID SECOND POSITIVE SINGLET L15, AND OF THE AXIAL THICKNESSES AND SEPARATIONS D1 TO D26 THEREOF, BASED UPON A NUMERICAL VALUE OF 150 FOR AN INTERMEDIATE OVERALL FOCAL LENGTH OF THE SYSTEM AT SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE REFRACTICE INDICES ND OF THE LENSES L1 TO L15 AND THEIR ABBE NUMBERS V BEING SUBSTANTIALLY AS GIVEN IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE, WHEREIN D3, D13 AND D16 ARE GIVEN FOR SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION: 